The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, over the importation of 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Summer-IDRI-Masterclass.jpg")
Delivering judgment, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the vessel and its crew guilty after they pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The court subsequently imposed fines and restitution totaling $6 million, alongside an additional N1.1 million penalty on the convicts.
According to the NDLEA, the vessel and its crew were arrested on November 16, 2025, following the interception of the cocaine consignment concealed onboard the ship, which originated from Santos, Brazil.
The agency had filed a four-count charge against the defendants in suit number FHC/L/1232C/25, led by its Director of Prosecution and Legal Services.
In his ruling, Justice Faji held that the vessel was liable under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and ordered it to pay a N100,000 fine and $5.35 million in restitution to the Federal Government.
Three principal officers of the vessel were each fined N100,000 and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, while the remaining seven crew members were fined N100,000 each and $50,000 in restitution apiece.
Reacting to the judgment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), described the conviction as a significant milestone in the fight against drug trafficking.
He said the ruling sends a strong message to international drug cartels that Nigeria’s territorial waters are no longer safe for illicit narcotics operations.
Marwa added that the $6 million penalty would serve as a deterrent, noting that the agency is increasingly targeting the financial networks behind drug trafficking.
He also commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command, the agency’s legal team, and the judiciary for ensuring a diligent investigation and speedy trial.
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